FishChecker

The Red Shoulder Peacock (Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Ngara') is a highly prized and visually stunning cichlid from Lake Malawi, renowned for its vibrant coloration and graceful demeanor. Males exhibit a captivating display of iridescent blues and purples across their bodies, often with a striking metallic sheen that catches the light beautifully. The defining feature, and the origin of its name, is the prominent splash of fiery orange to deep red that adorns their operculum and extends onto their shoulder area, creating a dramatic contrast. Their fins are typically edged with electric blue or white, further enhancing their elegance. Females are less colorful, sporting a more subdued silvery-brown or greyish-blue hue, though they possess the same sleek body shape. These fish are relatively peaceful for African cichlids, making them suitable for community tanks with other similarly sized and temperamented Malawi cichlids. They thrive in aquariums with plenty of open swimming space, sandy substrates, and rockwork forming caves and territories. Maintaining stable water parameters typical of Lake Malawi cichlids (hard, alkaline water) is crucial for their health and vibrant coloration.

Peacock. Many regional variants exist. Males are colorful, females are drab.